The Circle Executive Committee Meeting of Maharashtra has been held at Conference hall of CGMT office, Mumbai on 20-01-2018. Inaugurating the CEC, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri ,Advisor gave a good account of the recent developments with regard to the wage revision and pension revision, formation of separate tower company and the struggles conducted by AIBDPA. He also appealed to implement the CHQ call in letter and spirit to participate in the agitational programmes called by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL demanding wage revision and pension revision. Coms.G.G.Patil, AGS, Com.N.Nalwade, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, R.N.Patil, Circle Secretary, Ubhesaheb, Adsul (SNEA), Ganesh Hinge, Circle Treasurer, Shri. Mahabel, GM (Finance) and Shri. Aman Jaiswal, GM(HR) also addressed. Com.Suryavanshi, Circle President was in the chair.

Active discussion took place in the afternoon session in which issues of pensioners were dealt in detail. Representing the district branches, Coms. H.L.Tawari (Buldhana), Gulab Kale (Aurangabad) Suryavanshi (Pune), H.K.Patil (Jalgaon), Kashid (Kalayan) Fande (Bhandara), Pendharkar (Chandrapur), Thakre(Khamgaon), Ghadigaonkar (Mumbai) and B.P.Petkar (Nagpur) spoke. Com.R.N.Patil, Circle Secretary replied to the discussion. Com.G.G.Patil, AGS guided the meeting effectively.

The meeting took the following decisions.

(1) To support and participate in the agitations called by All Unions and Associations demanding wage revision and pension revision.

(2) To host the next Central Executive Committee Meeting at Jalgaon date of which will be decided later and

(3) Decided to take up strongly the issues of non-payment of quarterly medical allowances from April, 2017 and undue delay in settlement of medical bills.

Mumbai District Branch under Com.Ghadigaonkar, District Secretary with the active support of BSNLEU comrades made excellent arrangements for the CEC meeting.

RSS is planning to remove Virjesh Upadhyay, from the post of General Secretary of BMS.

Today’s Times of India has reported that the RSS is greatly annoyed with Virjesh Upadhyay, the General Secretary of BMS, and it is on the way of removing him from the post. The anti-BJP and anti-Modi government stand, being taken by Virjesh Upadhyay is said to be the reason, as per the report. However, fact remains that the BMS, which claims to be the biggest trade union in India, has dissociated with other Central Trade Unions. BMS did not join the last two General Strikes that had taken place in 2015 and 2016, opposing the anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the Modi government. Further, the BMS also did not participate in the historic “Mahapadav” that shook Delhi on 09^th, 10^th & 11^th November, 2017. Both these struggles were organised by the entire Central Trade Unions. The BMS did not participate in these struggles, because both the BMS and the BJP belong to the RSS family. Despite this being the fact, even one or two speeches made by Virjesh Upadhyay, General Secretary of BMS, criticising the policies of the Modi government, are not acceptable to the RSS. RSS claims itself to be a “non-political”, “cultural” organisation. As such, why it should intervene in the functioning of a trade union?

(courtesy: BSNLEU website)

The Procedure for getting referral from wellness centres to undertake treatment at CGHS empanelled Private Hospitals simplified now. All CGHS beneficiaries (in all CGHS Cities) shall be permitted for seeking OPD consultation from Specialists at Private hospitals empanelled under CGHS after being referred by any Medical Officer/CMO of CGHS Wellness Centre

Z 15025/117/2017/DIR/CGHS/ EHS
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare
EHS Section

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 15th January, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Simplification of referral system under CGHS

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to state that this Ministry has been receiving representations for simplification of procedure for CGHS beneficiaries to undertake treatment at private hospitals empanelled under CGHS. The guidelines issued earlier on referral/ permission under Office Memoranda No S 11011/6/96 -CGHS (P) dt. 11/6/97 and 02/09/99, S-12020/4/97 -CGHS (P) dt. 07/04/1999. S 1101 l/l/200-CGHS (P) dt. 10/04/2001 and RA/Cons/Hyd/09-10/CGHS-IV, dated 11/06/2010 and Z.15025/105/2017/ DIR/CGHS dt. 09/11/2017 has been reviewed and it has now been decided to revise the guidelines for consultation and treatment at CGHS empanelled private hospitals as per the details given under:

i) All CGHS beneficiaries (in all CGHS Cities) shall be permitted for seeking OPD consultation from Specialists at Private hospitals empanelled under CGHS after being referred by any Medical Officer/CMO of CGHS Wellness Centre. The referral may be mentioned on the computer generated Prescription slip. After consultation at empanelled hospitals beneficiary shall report back to concerned wellness centre, where MO/CMO would endorse listed investigation and issue medicines as per guidelines mentioned below. For unlisted investigation/treatment procedure CMO Incharge shall submit the prescription to competent authority for consideration in case of pensioner beneficiaries. Serving employees shall seek permission for unlisted investigation/treatment procedure from their department as per prevailing guidelines.

ii) The medicines prescribed by specialists shall be supplied by CGHS as per the available generic name at the CGHS Wellness Centre. In case the medicine prescribed by the Specialist is available by an alternative brand name having the same composition, it shall be supplied by the brand name available at CGHS Wellness Centre.

If, the medicine prescribed by the Specialist is not available at CGHS Wellness Centre either by generic name or alternate brand name, it shall be indented by the same brand name through Authorized Local Chemist.

iii) With reference to OM Z.15025/105/2017/DIR/CGHS dated 09/11/2017, it is clarified that the validity of the advice of Central Government /State Government Specialist / CGHS Medical officer for listed treatment procedures shall be treated as valid for three months unless mentioned otherwise and no other referral (permission) letter is required to undergo, the treatment procedure at any of the empanelled Hospitals. It is also clarified that once a specific treatment procedure (listed) has been advised by a Specialist of Central Government /State Government or a CGHS Medical officer, it is the option of CGHS beneficiary to undergo at any of the CGHS empanelled hospitals of his/her choice and it is not compulsory that Specialist /CGHS Medical officer shall refer the beneficiary for treatment to any CGHS recognized hospitals.

iv) In case of Haemo-Dialysis, the advice for treatment can be made upto six months and in such cases the advice shall be valid for upto six months.

v) In case of Radio-therapy / Chemotherapy advised by a Government Specialist the advice shall be valid for all the cycles of Radio-therapy/Chemotherapy. The specialist has to specify the specific Radio-therapy procedure. Self-attested (by beneficiary) photo-copies of the permission letter is required to be submitted.

vi) In case of post-operative follow up treatment in six conditions as specified in OM dated 10.04.2001, permission for follow-up treatment shall be required from competent authority.

vii) In case of non-listed investigations / treatment procedures permission from competent authority is required to be obtained.

2. This issues with the approval of competent authority in supersession of earlier guidelines.

[Dharminder Singh]
Under Secretary to Government of India
Tel- 011-23062666

A meeting is held on 17-01-2018 between the CMD BSNL and the Core Committee today. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, BSNLEU, Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA and Com.K.S. Kulkarni, AGS, NFTE, attended today’s meeting. In the meeting, the following information is given by the CMD BSNL.  

Financial results of BSNL for 2016 – 17.

The CMD BSNL shared some information with regards to BSNL’s financial results for the year 2016 – 17, which are encouraging. Operating profit (EBIDTA) is estimated to be Rs.1,684 crore and the net loss of the Company is estimated at Rs.4,700 crore. The CMD BSNL also informed that according to the new valuation mechanism, the net worth of BSNL is valued at Rs.34,319 crore and that, the net asset worth of the Company is estimated at Rs.91,684 crore.  

BSNL to roll-out 4G service on 31.01.2018.

The CMD BSNL informed that BSNL will announce the rolling-out of it’s 4G service on 31^st January, 2018. He told that BSNL has demanded from the government, the allocation of 5MHz of 4G spectrum, in the 2100MHz bandwidth. The price of this 4G spectrum comes to Rs.16,000 crore. BSNL has demanded that 50% of this amount should be adjusted through capital infusion by the government, and the remaining 50% would be paid by BSNL in 10 equal instalments, said the CMD. He also told that the DoT is positive to the demand of BSNL, and that a final decision is expected to be taken soon. After allotment of 4G spectrum by the government, BSNL would install 10,000 BTSs for rolling-out 4G service. 

Core Committee members raised serious issues with the CMD.

In today’s meeting the members of the Core Committee raised certain serious issues with the CMD BSNL. They told that the issues of non-settlement of 3^rd Pay Revision and formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company with an IAS officer as it’s CMD are seriously agitating the minds of the employees. Cancellation of the free calling from landlines on Sundays, as well as change in the timing of the night free calling, acute shortage of equipments for providing FTTH connections, frequent and large scale damaging of BSNL’s cables were taken to the notice of the CMD.

(BSNLEU website)

Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of Communications has stated that Telecom is a services provider and therefore cannot be revenue generator for the government; Economic Times has reported. The report further says that it is a change in the mindset of the government. Well and Good; then the government should immediately cause early action to implement the 3rd PRC to BSNL employees and the pension revision to the BSNL pensioners.

Com.G.G.Patil, AGS has inaugurated the Biennial District Conference of Dharwar at Telephone Exchange Recreation Club hall on 09-01-2018 , covering all the issues of the pensioners and the current developments. Com.A.D.Kulkarni, District Secretary also addressed as a special invitee. Com.I.R.Bijapur, District Secretary welcomed the participants. The biennial report and accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion. Com.N.S.Kasabed, President presided over the conference..

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. N.S.Kasabed (President), Com.J.Y.Totad (District Secretary) and Com.D.C.Yeligar (Treasurer)

State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has made yet another massive change, but this time for its broadband section. The company has now announced the withdrawal of unlimited Sunday free voice calling with its landline/combo/FTTH broadband plans. This new change will be effective from February 1, 2018, and is applicable to both new as well as existing customers. BSNL, a while back released a press statement on the same.

Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary inaugurated a well attended meeting of Mavelikara Area on 14-01-2018. He explained the current developments especially the agitational programme calle by All Unions and Associations for wage revision and pension revision and CHQ decision to participate. Com.K.P.Kesavan Nair, President presided over the meeting. Com.P.Surendran, District Secretary also addressed. Com.P.Sasidharan, Area Secretary welcomed all.

The District Conference of Belgaum was held with good participation at M.G.Auditorium, Belgaum on 11-01-2018. Com.R.B.Tatapati, District President presided over the conference and delivered the keynote address. Inaugurating the conference, Com.G.G.Patil, AGS,  explained the issues in detail and the efforts and struggles being organised by CHQ for settlement. Coms.Muddaiah, Circle Secretary, Bhosale, and Gaste also addressed. Com.S.S.Sarapure, District Secretary wecomed all and submitted the biennial report which was adopted after discussion. Participation of more than 50 lady comrades is worth mentioning.

Com. R.B.Tatapati (President), S.S.Sarapure (District Secretary) and Com.M.V.Kulkarni are the important office bearers elected unanimously.